circular English · revision 10818

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1370|origins=xno circuler|origins=la-lat circularis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsɜː.kjə.lə/, US /ˈsɝː.kjə.lɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|xno|circuler]], Old French circulier (modern circulaire),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) a learned borrowing of Late Latin circulāris, from circulus, small ring (see [[circle]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The spelling circular, first recorded in the late 1500s, imitates the Latin.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Round, having the form of a circle: 1370, in Chaucer's Boethius,^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline, 1430 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Moving in a circle is from about 1450,^(OED 1989) and of reasoning, arguing in a circle, a later sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) A ''circular letter'', one addressed to a circle of people, is from the 1650s, and the noun circular, a notice sent to many people, from 1818.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) A ''circular tour'', ending where it began, is from 1860.^(OED 1989) The noun, a circular figure, is from 1560.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Circularity'' is from 1582 and ''circularize'' from 1799.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1370 – round.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1450 – moving in a circle.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1560 – a circular figure (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1650s – circular letter.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1818 – a circular, a notice.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Shaped like a [[circle]]; round.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Moving in or forming a circle; ending where it began.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of reasoning, using as evidence what it sets out to prove.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Roundabout; indirect.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A printed letter or advertisement sent to many people.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[circularity]]

+ * [[circularly]]

+ * [[circularness]]

+ * [[circularise]]

+ * [[circularize]]

+ * [[noncircular]]

+ * [[subcircular]]

+ * [[uncircular]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[circle]]

+ * [[circular file]]

+ * [[circular saw]]

+ * [[circulate]]

+ * [[circus]]

+ * [[circuit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}